Art spotlight: Realism on display

Ongoing: Realistic-looking paintings don't just happen with the flick of a wrist. Artists study, train, practice and build their skills just as athletes, musicians and debaters do. In the Twin Cities, many artists have honed their craft at the Atelier, a school specializing in traditional European teaching methods that originated in 18th-century France. An educational show, "Training" demonstrates the step-by-step process through which artists develop images from drawings to finished canvases. A "work in progress" will be produced in stages during the exhibition. Besides "The Sweeper," by Douglas Kingsbury (above), the show includes compositions by prominent Atelier graduates and faculty including co-directors Dale Redpath and Cyd Wicker, who will also give a free talk at 7 p.m. Sept. 22. Other events include a presentation on traditional and contemporary artist supplies by Wet Paint, the exhibition sponsor (10 a.m.-noon, Oct. 1, free), and a lecture on the atelier tradition by University of Minnesota professor Gabriel Weisberg (10 a.m., Oct. 8, free). (8 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., 1-10 p.m. Sun. Inez Greenberg Gallery, Bloomington Art Center, 1800 W. Old Shakopee Rd., Bloomington. Ends Oct. 14. Free. 952-563-8575 or www.bloomingtonartcenter.com.)